IWB holster for Glock 27

[Randyc]

I've never been able to comfortably wear an IWB holster but none the less alot of people like that mode of carry. Like other guys have suggested, I plan to design my next IWB longer and wider at the top and bottom so that more of the holster is below belt line line offering more stability especially with the shorter, thicker automatic pistols.

Mortarman,

All is not lost with your holster. Try wearing the holster between your your belt and waistband. I've found that mode of carry comfortable and conceals well with the shorter length automatics, at least for my body style.

Randy

[Warren]

I'm with Boomstick! I learn more from reading what everybody posts than I could any other way I can think of. Put my name in the 1911 giveaway too! Keep it up guys, it's great!

Warren

[TwinOaks]

1911 giveaway?!?!?!? SIGN ME UP TOO!!!

I forgot to mention this earlier, but my IWB can be seen in "finally remade the blooming thing" I know it looks rough, but it is flesh out, and since I don't have a sewing maching, I'm learning to hand stitch . The important parts are how well the holster retains the pistol, and how comfortable is it. After all, if it's IWB, no one should see it anyway.

Note how much cant I have for the pistol and how much of it is above the belt.

[K-Man]

Actually you do want to stitch as close as you can on the dust cover/trigger guard side of the gun. If you get too far away, then guess what's going to happen? Yep, the leather will loosen up somewhat with time and useage, and then you've got a gun flopping around in there. Which, for one thing, will make it mighty uncomfortable to wear/carry; not to mention, potentially unsafe depending on the gun. You want the gun held securely within the leather. A sight path can be achieved relatively easy with nothing more than a 1/4 or 3/8 dowel rod set atop the slide of the gun. You then mold and stitch around it. Take a look at some pictures of holsters made by Milt Sparks holsters, Josh Bulman holsters, Lou Alessi holsters, Matt Del Fatti holsters, as they will give you a sampling of what's been found to work the best.

Edited February 17, 2008 by K-Man

[TwinOaks]

Kman, what I was getting at is to use the rest of the holster for the retention, and the part that's above the waist is little more than cover. The leather around the trigger guard should not be what's holding the pistol. If that was the case, regular holstering and drawing would wear out the retention mechanism, requiring constant remolding of that area. For an IWB holster, the belt is what is holding the pistol, and all of the holster that's above belt is protection for the pistol. The sight rail is a gimick unless the holster is carried with zero cant. If carried at even a slight cant then the draw motion is UP not forward, and once the motion starts the sight clears the holster through simple geometry. That same draw is why I stated to not stitch too close to the trigger guard. You need to allow room for the upward motion in a forward raked holster, and if you look at the pic at the top of the thread, you'll see that is what we're talking about. I guess I should have worded it " don't stitch so close that the leather is too tight to allow an upwards draw of the pistol, because if you do, the leather will be too tight to allow adequate 'wiggle' of the pistol during the draw (because we all know that your adrenalin absolutely kills the fine motor skills you need to draw a pistol at a precise angle, instead of just yanking the thing clear of the holster and loosing a round from the hip) and may hamper your ability to draw, possibly with adverse effects on your present state of being alive." Would that have been better?

Incidentally, since you've dropped some names in the holster making community, please check out the holsters made by Milt Sparks (Summer Special model) and Horseshoe Leather holsters- particularly the model 62 IWB holster ( which is what I modeled mine on). It is a flesh out IWB, without even the details of boning---and the stitches are not tight to the shape of the pistol.

In contrast, the OWB holsters have incredibly fine boning work that looks like it was vacuum pressed. They DO have tight stitching to aide in retention, probably because the belt is on the wrong side of the holster to retain the pistol.

Edited February 17, 2008 by TwinOaks

[K-Man]

Thanks for pointing out about the OP's picture - guess I missed that. I don't believe I said that the only retention of the gun in the holster is achieved in the trigger guard area. That's only a part of it. A properly molded holster is what provides the correct amount of retention. Some holster makers detail that more than others. Part of the retention is achieved by the stitching also. And if you have the stitching too far away from the frame of the gun, you're going to eventually have problems with the retention.

A sight path is not a gimmick. Try pulling a gun out of a holster that has some of the larger/taller after-market sights on it without the holster having a sight path molded or sewn in. All you're going to get is a big wad of leather and most likely excessive wear on the finish of the gun from trying to pull it out of the holster without a sight path.

I know T. Kanaley at Milt Sparks fairly well and have talked with him on many an occasion. In particular, you mention the Summer Special. You might want to refresh your memory about that holster. Take a close look as to where the stitch line is in comparison to the trigger guard/dust cover of the gun. And if you happen to look at the picture of it on their website, you'll see a sewn-in sight path. My suggestion to you is to be sure you know what you're talking about when you post about it here....

Best of luck to you in your holster making endeavor(s).

Edited February 17, 2008 by K-Man

[TwinOaks]

... A properly molded holster is what provides the correct amount of retention. Some holster makers detail that more than others. Part of the retention is achieved by the stitching also. And if you have the stitching too far away from the frame of the gun, you're going to eventually have problems with the retention.

I agree completely with this statement. I stated something similar in the post that you originally responded to. Also I said not to stitch too tightly. That shouldn't be construed as 'nowhere near'. Only that it shouldn't be so tight as to interfere with the removal of the pistol/revolver from the holster.

A sight path is not a gimmick. Try pulling a gun out of a holster that has some of the larger/taller after-market sights on it without the holster having a sight path molded or sewn in. All you're going to get is a big wad of leather and most likely excessive wear on the finish of the gun from trying to pull it out of the holster without a sight path.

If the pistol won't clear the holster quickly and cleanly, it's in the wrong holster. For high sights, Yes, a sight rail may be needed.

... Take a close look as to where the stitch line is in comparison to the trigger guard/dust cover of the gun. And if you happen to look at the picture of it on their website, you'll see a sewn-in sight path.

From Wikipedia: In marketing language, a gimmick is a unique or quirky special feature that makes something "stand out" from its contemporaries.

I submit to you that the addition of the sight path is an industry's effort to build a holster that can fit a particular model of pistol, i.e. 1911/clone, with a variety of options- such as aftermarket sights. If the weapon in question has the larger sights then a holster may indeed need that sight channel, and for those models of pistol the holster should be built to accomadate that. But, for standard sights, as found on most pistols that aren't modified (I know there are exceptions here, such a a Colt GCT) the sight channel is completely unneccesary. It is an effort to make one holster fit all of a particular type of pistol, and in doing so, provide a semi-custom holster at a reasonable price. It's an excellent business decision to use one pattern that fits many things. I applaud the folks a MS for being able to produce quality holsters that fit most guns of particular type, and supply them to customers in a reasonable time frame. However, the design doesn't cover all pistols. A prime example is that a new trend is to have an accessory rail. I don't see many holsters on Miltsparks.com that address this. Designing one is probably in the works, but opining that 'all holsters need to have an accessory rail channel sewn in' doesn't make sense. Custom building each holster would increase production times drastically, whereas having a pattern ready to go decreases the production time. If the sight rail was absolutely required, then why don't all holsters have one, and why does the IWB I made without one (as ugly that it is) work so well?

I've got Miltsparks.com open on the other computer, and have been looking at their work. It is supurb, no doubt, but I'm having trouble with one image. Could you help me find the tight stitch line on model CC-AT? I can't seem to find it as there is another retention mechanism- namely the ajustable tention welt. I wonder if having a belt over an IWB holster would do the same thing (secure the pistol in the holster), by adding pressure to keep the holstered pistol pulled in tight to the body? It has always seemed to me that for the IWB style of carry, the holster is really there to protect your skin from the weapon, and to protect the weapon from your skin ( and sweat, body oils, etc.).

As it happens, Mr. Kanaley is a member on this board, and if he could spare the time, I'm sure we'd all appreciate his input, as opposed to reading our bickering back and forth.

[K-Man]

Yes, Mr. Kanaley is a member of the board here, and I've invited him to comment on his holster designs to help you understand the theories of holster making. I suspect I know why the stitching on the CCAT model is as it is, but I will defer the answering of your question to him.

When a sight path is incorporated into a holster, it is, in part, an effort to do two things. One is to accomodate the already applied sights on a gun, and also to allow the user to put aftermarket sights on their gun at a later time without having to buy a new holster at the point they do that. People change sights on a gun as often as they change underwear. Most holster makers will ask the customer what style of sights they have on the gun or whether they intend to put aftermarket sights on in the near future. In addition, I never said that a sight path was absolutely required in every instance. I only provided a ways/means to incorporate one if USMC0341 (or anyone else) wanted to add one in on their next holster.

The making of a custom holster is just that - it's made to fit the specifics of a particular gun. There are all kinds of variables and considerations that come into play, however, some aspects remain the same across the board. There are a number of users on this board who can provide you (and others) with sound advice on the making of holsters. Best of luck to you and those here on the forum - I'm outta here.

[usmc0341]

Thanks for all the input guys. I'm going to have to play around with some ideas and see if I can fix the problems. One more holster into the unused holster box!!!

[BOOMSTICKHolsters]

One more holster into the unused holster box!!!

I've upgraded to an unused "holster garbage bag". When I have made it all the way to an unused "holster bin" I'll consider myself a real pro! :D